Microcontact processing for microtechnology and biology

Processes occurring on surfaces are ubiquitous both in everyday life and in the research activities of many scientists. When these processes can be mastered with sufficient spatial resolution, they are employed for the manufacture of electronic devices, displays, data storage equipment, optical equipment, sensors, diagnostic devices, etc. A new class of surface-patterning techniques in which chemistry is localized by means of micropatterned stamps or microfluidic elements is emerging. These techniques might be increasingly applied to complement 'conventional' microfabrication techniques and to create high-performance, miniaturized bio-analytical systems. © Schweizerische Chemische Gesellschaft.